Franchising's Weekly Rewind

You ask. McDonald’s answers. McDonald’s is taking a new approach to answering questions from consumers. The brand is launching their “Our Food. Your Questions” campaign to allow the American public to ask questions and get answers from the fast-food chain via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The campaign will also feature former “Mythbusters” host Grant Imahara. He will be visiting McDonald’s suppliers and restaurants across the country for a series of online videos. (From The Consumerist) Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company acquires Peter Piper Pizza The parent company to Chuck E. Cheese’s, CEC Entertainment Inc., has acquired the 147-unit Peter Piper Pizza chain. CEC owns 522 Chuck E. Cheese’s location and franchises 55 units. Peter Piper has 32 company-owned units and 115 franchise locations in the Southwest and Mexico. Both concepts feature entertainment and pizza for families. CEC intends to grow the Peter Piper brand nationally. (From Nation’s Restaurant News) Carlson Rezidor plans franchise expansion The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is planning on spreading its brand to the Americas. The expansion will focus on the company’s Country Inn & Suites and the new Radisson Red brand. In 2014 Minneapolis-based Carlson added two new brands, the Quorvus Collection and Radisson Red. (From Hotel Management) Papa Murphy’s announces new cheesy bread Take-and-bake pizza franchise Papa Murphy’s announced its new and improved Thick ‘N’ Cheesy HomeBaked Bread. The new cheesy bread is now available at all Papa Murphy’s locations nationwide. The Thick ‘N’ Cheesy HomeBaked Bread is made with fresh dough, and 100-percent whole-milk mozzarella cheese. (From QSR Magazine) Forever Yogurt teams up with Falafill Forever Yogurt will now be offered at Falafill, at the Mediterranean concept’s Broadway location in Chicago. Falafill will feature frozen-yogurt machines with specially-developed flavors developed by Falafill’s executive chef, Maher Chebaro. During the month of October, Falafill will feature a pink, pomegranate raspberry frozen yogurt topped with baklava and pistachios. For every sale $1 will be donated to the Chicagoland chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. (From Fastcasual.com) Sonoma company becomes largest owner of California Taco Bells A Sonoma investment firm will be the largest franchise owner of the Taco Bell restaurant chain in California. The groups will be purchasing an additional 13 Taco Bell locations to hit this mark. The investment firm, Golden Gate Bell Restaurant Holdings, purchased Taco Bell locations mainly in Sonoma and Napa Counties. Golden Gate Bell also acquired 72 Taco Bells last month. (From San Francisco Business Times)